Our bus ride from Seward to Anchorage

Well, they did it - they made us get off the ship!  We woke up Friday morning to the alarm clock, already docked in Seward.  We got dressed and then went up for our last breakfast at Oceans Cafe.  Then we gathered our carry-on luggage and proceeded to the Martini Bar, to wait with the rest of the people in debarkation group 41 Green!

We were called about 7:45, gave them our sea pass cards, and got off the ship.  We walked to the terminal, collected our luggage and then found our bus for the trip to Anchorage.

We had booked a scenic tour - the bus made a couple of photo stops, and a longer stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center along the way.  As we progressed towards Anchorage, the weather improved and we had most blue sky.  The scenery along the trip was in keeping with the "Alaska spectacular" that we had experienced during the cruise.

There was also narrated information on Seward and the area between Seward and Anchorage.  We got into Anchorage about 1:30, but found that our room wasn't ready, and wouldn't be till 3:00 pm.  So, we had some time to hang out in the lobby, read our books and look at all of the information about Anchorage that the motel provided.

After we got settled in, we walked over to the hotel that Bryan, Peter, Jo, John and Billie were staying at.  Jo, John and Billie had gone off on a float plane trip (that was on Billie's bucket list) and Peter was taking advantage of the laundry facilities at the hotel.

We made plans to meet at 6:00 for dinner, and map out the rest of our time in Anchorage.  Most of us still feel like we are on the ship - like the ground is moving under our feet!

The terminal at Seward, on a very gray morning

One of the scenic photo stops we made on the bus trip to Anchorage

And another - blue sky and snow capped mountains!

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center cares for and houses animals with injuries that prevent them from returning to the wild.  When the animals have recovered they are returned to the wild.

A herd of Musk Ox - including a small one whose mother and brother were both killed by a bear

Now that I'm writing this, I can't remember if these were elk or reindeer!  Their antlers were very big and fuzzy!

On the bus trip, we passed through lots of dead forest.  These are called "ghost forests", and result from the tsunami that followed the earthquake in 1964.  If you expand this picture, you can read about it. 

More "ghost forest"

And more - it was quite eerie, actually

Tomorrow - Anchorage adventures!!